FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Grant LaGrange
Racing Media Relations Coordinator
BOBBY’S WICKED ONE BACK IN FORM IN THANKSGIVING CLASSIC WIN
New Orleans (November 28, 2019) –
Autumn Hill Farms Bobby’s Wicked One improved to four wins in five starts at Fair Grounds Racecourse on Thanksgiving Thursday when he took down the traditional opening day $100,000 Thanksgiving Classic.
With the scratch of Wilbo and Sonic Mule out of the field, three were sent to post for the Thursday feature, with Bobby’s Wicked One getting bet down to be the odds on favorite in the race.
The Al Stall Jr. trainee broke like a rocket, taking the early lead and setting an opening quarter mile of :21.66 seconds for the six furlong journey. He remained clear while entering the turn, stretching his lead over second choice Whereshetoldmetogo and clicking off another blistering fraction of :44.30 seconds. Entering the long Fair Grounds Stretch, Bobby’s Wicked One was set down for the drive home by jockey Miguel Mena and pulled away to win comfortably by 3 lengths in a final time of 1:08.68 seconds.
“He broke well and I was just along for the ride today,” said winning rider Miguel Mena. “This horse when he breaks well is hard to beat. He had that rough start at Churchill but with a good break today and as fresh as he is, I knew I had a ton of horse under me,” said Mena.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. was also satisfied with the performance Bobby’s Wicked One showed today,
“I knew he was going to be fresh and I’m glad he put in this race,” said Stall. ‘We know how good he is and those last few races are not indicative of what this horse can do. Im really proud of him and happy with this performance,” he said.
“We have a lot of options with him now,” Stall said in regards to where he may show up next. “We can keep him here and run in a few stakes races which we’ll probably end up doing,” he said.
The son of Speightstown improves his lifetime record to 14-5-4-1 with career earnings just shy of $500,000 dollars.
A good runner up finisher was the Gary Broad owned and Chris Davis trained Tringale, who was only beaten 3 ½ lengths with jockey Mitchell Murrill aboard,
“We had a plan to sit off the two speed horses,” said jockey Mitchell Murrill. “ The horse broke well, I just sat in the pocket and waited and let my horse make one run like we had planned. He executed and finished up down the lane, just wasn’t good enough to catch up to the winner.”
Rounding out the field was #1 Whereshetoldmetogo.
Bobby’s Wicked One paid $3.40 to win. There was no place or show wagering available.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global
Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 148th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 107 th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 28, 2019 through March 29, 2020. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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